Continuous pressure separating device



, 1933 13 SheetsSheet l Filed Jan. l0

April 5, 1938. R, M; THOMPSON 2,112,869

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. l0, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 4 ATTORNEY April 5, 1938. R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARTIGDEVICE 1933 15 sheets-sheet 3' Filed Jan. lO,

/IV VENTO/x April 5, 1938.

R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan.l 1o, 1953 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTU/(NE Y April-5, 1938. R. M. THOMPSON i CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. l0, 1933 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 'R M. THOMPSON 2,112,869v

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 5, 1938.

Filed Jan. l0, 1933 32o C) l vC) @f3/9D O 31e f5 Mg. /4

334- 32o 332 fig/ ENVENTOR ATTORNEY als April 5, 1938. R, M THOMPSQN 2,112,869

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 10, 1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 j was LY 1 I l IN V EN TOR.

` 5 ATTORNEY April 5, 1938.

R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE 1935 115 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. lO,

fry. la

me' .124 V85 hTI--- O0 o ooo n a non o ooo ce INVENTOR /oez/ JV. Thompson ATTORNEY April 5, 1938- R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARTING DEVICE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. .10, 1933 INVENTOR omgaan eff M.

TNY

April 5, 1938. R. M. THOMPSON 2,112,869

` CONTINUOUS PRESSURE* SEPARATING' DEVICE Filed Jan. 1o, 195s 1s sheets-sheet -1o INI/EIs/TOR.v

E934. obf/) angosmv BY- ATTORNEY April 5, 1938. R. M. THOMPSON CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. l0, 1933 13 ShQe'bSfSheet 1l INVENTOR oeff/l. 7720/7505012 ATTORNEY April 5, 1938. R, M THOMPSON 2,112,869

CONTINUOUS PRESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE Filed Jan. l0, 1933 Y l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 ATTORNEY Aprnl 5, 1938. R. M. THoMPsoN CONTINUOUS `PRIESSURE SEPARATING DEVICE 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Jan. 10, 1933 INvENToR JV. Thompson ATIORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED its 1s 194i` i' OFFICE Appiication January 1o, 1933, serial No. 650,990

30 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of devices de# signed to separate fluids or liquids from `other fluids or liquids of greater fluidity and iiuids or liquids from solids.

More particularly, my invention relates to a combined press and filter press or to a press designed for continuous operation which is characterized by the development of extremely high pressures and practical and efficient operation. Particularly does my invention relate to simplifying and reducing the cost of the filtration or filtration step in the industrial arts, which step at present constitutes one of the expensive operations in manufacturing. 'Ihe invention in general relates to the art of ,filtering or filtration disclosed in Patent No. 1,778,342, issued to me October 14, 1930 and in my application, Ser. No. 509,595.

It is common practice in the art of filtration to refer to devices designed for the separation of materials by the application of force or pressure to the materials from Without, as presses; while devices designed for the separation of materials by having the force or pressure transmitted through the materials themselves as filter presses. Filter presses are usually used where the amount of solids to be separatedl is but a small proportion of the total mob-ilemass composed of said solids and liquids in which said solids are disposed and hence the said materials are pumped into the filter press. Presses on the other hand, are used where the proportion of solid matter is much greater in relation to that of the liquid composing said niaterials to be filtered. The distinction between the two devices will develop clearly in the following paragraphs.

By rendering the filtering continuous, my device herein disclosed provides for utilizing the filter press principle with materials in which the solids are the predominant percentage of the material being treated. This is just the reverse of the common practice. Heretofore, the devices in common use for materials having only a small percentage of liquids, has been the press type rather than the filter press type. By providing for relatively excessively high pressures and fluid tight chambers and continuous discharge of cake in a iilter press type of device, the machine embodying my invention herein set forth, has solved one of the diiiicult steps in manufacturing processes.

In the industrial arts filtration is very often a costly item in the manufacturing process. This 55 is due in part to the intermittent character of `a press and as a filter press.

(Cl. 21o-197) the operation of the filter devices and to the large amount ofr manual attention which is incident thereto. Moreover, in the iiltering process there are points at which the expressed liquids are more clear than at other points.V 'Ihe clearer liquids are usually obtained during the later stages of the separating process due to the fact that these liquids pass through the iiltering medium after a deposit of the retained solids on the filtering mediumV has accumulated, which re- 10 tained solids usually form an important part of the filtering medium. The early liquids expressed before the deposit of said solids in the form of ka filter on the filter cloth or medium may be cloudy. By separately drawing off the cloudy 1,5 portion of the expressed liquid during the early stages of the filtration process, a minimum quantity of thecloudy filtrate is retained with the clear filtrate.

yObjection obtainsto the devices as heretofore 20 designed in the leakage that takes place by the joints formed between the stationary parts and moving parts of the device. Also serious objection obtains to the friction developed between said parts. This friction results in excessive wearing 25 awayfof the filter cloth as Well as other parts.

Furthermore, serious objection obtains in that the great pressures developed are difficult of control and when developed locally or are unevenly distributed result in breaking the machine. 30

In connection with the filtration part of the manufacturing process, it is frequently desirable to have a device which may be employed both as The filter devices as heretofore in common use are not capable of 35 this dual use. This involves the installation of both devices which involves: great expense as well as the loss of important floor space.

Ihe general objects of my present invention are to' overcome the objections to prior devices of 40 the nature hereinabove pointed out and to generally improve and increase the efficiency of continuous presses and filter presses, as well as to provide new means and modes of' operation with new-results 45 Another important object of my invention is to provide an upright or substantially vertical press or filter press of this nature embodying two pendent press members, pivotally supported from their upper ends, between which press members the material passes while being iiltered, said press members being connected With each other by transverseiioatingly mounted tie means, whereby the heavy pressures produced between the two l press members are counterbalanced at frequent intervals or section by section Without being transmitted to other or mounting parts of the frame. This tie means may include springs capable of yielding to pressure exerted between the two pendent press members.

Another object is to provide equalizer means in connection with both the top and bottom of the pendent press members for compelling equal movement of said press members toward and away from the central medial vertical plane of the machine at all times, the upper equalizing means preferably being in the form of manually operated adjusting mechanism and the lower equalizing means preferably being automatically operated in response to pressure.

Another primary object is to provide a press and lter press of this nature having a filter chamber formed by four belts, all moving in the same direction and at substantially the same rate of speed, whereby wea-r and needless consumption of power due to friction is reduced to a minimum, and the problem of preventing leakage of liquids even under relatively excessively high as well as ordinary pressures is very much simplified, two of said belts preferably being of material impervious to the passage of liquid and being supported by resilient means.

A further object is to provide for the application of intermittent or periodic increase of pressure to the materiall being treated, whereby short drainage periods are afforded during the intervals when the pressure is relatively sustained but not increased, as well as during such periods of increasing the pressure. The preferred means for affecting such periodic action may be in the form of a ratchet drive for transmitting the power to the filtermeans, said ratchet drive affording an intermittent drive of relatively slow and readily variable speed.

Other and more specific objects are to provide eicient self-adjusting plug means for maintaining a substantially liquid tight contact with the moving belts; to provide suction means for picking up any liquid which escapes around the plug means; to provide new and efficient means for picking up or collecting the liquid filtrate after it has passed through the filter cloths and slats (to prevent reabsorption of the liquid by the solid matter (cake) during its emergence from the pressure zone) to provide types of slat members for slat belts new as toform and construction, whereby the withdrawal of filtrate away from the pressing face of the slats is facilitated; to provide for employing traveling porous absorbent means as an assistance to carrying through the pressure chamber the material being treated and promoting the drainage of the uid part 'of the material; and to provide automatic means for governing the speed and the rate of feed to the machine in proportion to the thickness of the cake or layer of solid matter in the machine at the point of maximum pressure.

'I'he above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a press and filter press constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially on bro- ,i 1en line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

used to support the impervious side belts of my machine.

Fig. 10 is a detached plan View of a filtrate pick-up device used in my invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view substantially on broken line Il l Il, of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detached cross section of a cup like packing plug used iny the upper portion of my pressure chamber to form a seal against the escape of liquids, a leather packing cupfbeing shown.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of the upper portion of my press and filter press, showing a preferred form of packing plug means in end elevation.

Fig. 14 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of a preferred form of multiple packing plug used in my machine.

Fig. 15 is a cross section substantially on broken line I5 I5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an inverted fragmentary plan view of one of the packing plugs shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view through the side belt rail and side belts, showing a fragment of the main filter belts in the position in which they make sealing contact with the side belts.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of one form. of slat for the main slat belts, a wire mesh being used on the face of said slat.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on broken line I9 I 9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional View substantially on broken line 20 2D of Fig. 18 illustrating details of the drainage means of the slat shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

Fig. 21 is an end View of said slat.

Fig. 22 is a plan View with parts broken away of another form of filter belt slat in which a slotted plate is used on the face of the slat.

Fig. 23-is an edge View of the slat shown in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a sectional view substantially on broken line 24 24 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is a sectional View of a preferred form of filter belt slat of rhomboidal shape in cross section to afford walls which are inclined downwardly from the face to the rear of said slat to promote drainage of liquid.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary elevation of a perforated plate which may be used on the filter belt slat shown in Figs. 18 to 21 in place of the wire mesh plate shown in said Figs. 18 to 21.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view of still another form of filter belt slat in which said slat is of rhomboidal shape in cross section to aiford walls which are inclined downwardly from the face to the rear of said slat to promote drainage of a liquid, and inwhich a plate of porous filter material is provided as a face at the front of .the slat.

Fig. 28 is a plan view of still another form of lter belt slat.

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary cross section on broken line, 29-29 of Fig. 28.

Fig. is a sectional viewvon a larger scale Substantially 'on broken line 30-'370 of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a detached elevation illustrating one means for varying the speed of the ratchet drive and one means for compelling an edual travel of each ratchet arm. l

Fig. 32 is a detached fragmentary elevation illustrating one centering means which may be used in connection with the ratchet drive.

Fig. 33 is a detached fragmentary elevation of other centering means for the ratchet drive.

Fig. 34 is an elevation showing means for varying either the feed of the machine or the speed of movement of the belts, or both, automatically in proportion to the thickness of the cake or body of solid matter between the filter belts at the location where said cake is most highly compressed.

Fig. 35 shows a modified form` of my invention in which the lter belts are supported on chain mesh belts, which, in turn, are supported on rollers, the chain mesh belts taking the place of the slat belts shown in the preceding figures. This gure also shows a movable carrier member in the nature of a very porous fabric disposed between the filter belts, said carrier member providing drainage for materials which tend to pack and said carrier also assisting in feeding the materials through the machine.

Figs. 36 and 37 are enlarged fragmentary views in elevation and cross section, respectively, of the porous fabric shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 3S is a diagrammatic view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing one method of feeding material off of a conveyor into my press and lter press.

Fig. 39 is a cross section substantially on line .3Q-3e of Fig. 38.v

Fig. 40 is an enlarged detail showing the fiexin ble means for supporting the packing piug between the four moving filter belts in such a manner as to insure an equal pressure of the plug against all filter belts.

Fig. 4l is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of another modified form of ratchet drive for my combined press and filter press in which the ratchet levers are connected directly to the crank arms.

Fig. 42 is a fragmentary plan View of parts of a bevel gear -drive which may be used for the side chains of my combined press and filter press.

Fig. 43 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation showing the complete drive of the bevel gear mechanism shown partly in Fig. 42.

Fig. 44 is a somewhat diagrammatic side ele-- vation illustrating one means of guiding lter belts into my combined press and filter press.

Fig. 45 is a fragmentary sectional view show ing an alternative spring supporting structure for the main pendent frames.

Fig. 46 is a cross section through a side frame of my machine showing a coil spring resiliently supporting the side belt rail, said coil spring affording greater travel and being less subject to breakage than the flat springs shown in Figs. 4

and 17. Y

Fig. 4'? 1s a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation showing a modied form of my invention in which one of the pendent frame members xeclly and adjustably secured at its lower end to a non-movable' part of the frame.

Fig. 48 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention in which the impervious moving side belts are dispensed with and a highly polished nonemovable plate is substituted in place thereof. I

Fig. 49 is a somewhat diagrammatic View partly in section and partly in elevation, showing means for supporting the impervious side belt means with a pressure which varies in propertion to the pressure in the lter chamber.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 1 7, inclusive, wherein I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, I show a main frame formed of two upright parallel, spaced apart, channel shaped side members H0 provided with base members K HI and rigidly connected at their bottom ends by a cross plate H2, see Fig. 2. At their upper ends the side members H0 each have an angle bar H3 secured thereto. These angle bars eX- tend at right angles to the member H and are rigidly secured together by transverse platesl Il@ positioned near the outer ends of the angle bars H3. A transverse angle bar H5 (Fig. 3) also extends cross wise between the top ends of the side frame members H0 and cooperates with the transverse plates I I4 in rigidly connecting the two upper ends of the spaced apart side members HD together. The angle bar I i5 also provides support for a packing plug hereinafter described. The previously described parts form a rigid stationary and substantial frame on which the apparatus hereinafter described may be mounted.

Two pendent frame members, designated gen* erally by the numeral I I6 are suspended from the stationary frame by means of angle brackets H'l,

which are secured to the upright frame members HIJ and have set screws H8 therein which pro-` trude into suitable depressions shown by dotted lines at H9 in Fig. '7, in bracket members limon the pendent frame members IIS. Other bracket members II'I, having setscrews H 8', are provided above the brackets |20 to prevent displacement of the pendent frame membersi due to up thrust. The ends of the set screwsI H8' are positioned in depressions H9 Yin plates |20 which rest slidably on brackets |20 and permit the small amount of swinging movement required by the pendent frames. The pivotal supports which are thus formed for the pendent frame members H6 are located near the upper ends of said frame members and in substantially vertical alignment between upper bearings |2| and lower bearings |22, see Figs. 6 and '7, which are provided on these frame members. The upper bearings I2| are adjustably supported from shelf like portions at the upper ends of the pendent frames .I I5 by adjustable screw and nut means |724. This makes it possible to adjust the tension of slat belts, hereinafter described, which are supported by these bearings. 'Ihe pendent frames, hereinafter also called strongbacks, H6 are essentially of strong and rigid construction, designed to withstand heavy pressure. They are preferably each formed of an upright medial plate portion |25 having a relatively flat plane inner face provided with track members |26. Reinforcing cross members |21 of substantially U shaped cross section are rigidly connected with the medial plate portions |25 and extend crosswise of the rear sides thereof at spaced apart intervals. Longitudinally extending web membersY |28 extend along the rear side of the medial plate portions |25 and throughy the cross members |21, as more clearly shown in Figs. 4, 6, '7, and 8. The medial plate portions |25 'of the pendent frame members are provided with openings |29 positioned between the U shaped cross members', through which openings, liduid' may be taken olf, as hereinafter described. The outer ends of the U shaped cross members are provided with tie rod holes |30, as more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The pendent frame members IIB, are shown as built up of a plurality of pieces welded together, but it will be understood that they may be cast in one piece, if the use permits.

f 'I'he bearing members |2| at the top ends of the pendent frames ||6 support shafts |3| and |32 upon each of which shafts are mounted two spaced apart sprocket wheels |33. The lower bearing brackets |22 support shafts |34 and |35, upon each of which are mounted two spaced apart sprocket wheels |36. A greater or less number of sprocket wheels |33 and |36 may be provided on each of the respective shafts if desired. The lower sprocket wheels |36 are keyed to the shafts |34 and |35 as shown in Fig. 5 and the upper sprocket wheels |33 may be similarly keyed to their shafts |3| and |32.

Two endless slat belts are loperatively mounted on the sprocket wheels |33 and |36 and are supported on the pendent frames I6 in such a manner as to cooperate withv other parts in forming a pressure or filter chamber |38 having as two sides the two opposed-,and adjacent portions of said slat belts. This pressure or filter chamber |38 is wider at 'the top and converges toward the lower end in such a manner that material which is introduced at the top end will be subjected to increasing pressure as it moves downwardly through said chamber. The opposed portions of the slat belts which form walls of the pressure chamber |38 move downwardly in the operation of the machine.

The slat belts are formed of transverse slats designated generally by |30, These slats are secured to link belts |40 which run on the sprocket wheels |33 and |36. The link belts |40 have rollers 4|, see Figs. 4 and 5, at the locations wherethe links of said belts are pivotally connected, which rollers run on kthe track members |26 and serve as an antifriction meansfor supporting the load carried by the moving slat belts due to the development of pressure in the pressure chamber |38. Roller or ball bearings of conventional type, not shown, may be provided internally of the rollers |40 to further reduce fric-- tion, if desired. The slats used in making up forms of these slats are shown in Figs. 18 to 30,- inclusive. Where reference is made in this speci-.l

cation to top edge and bottom edge ofthese slats, it will be understood that these terms referV to the slats in the position in which they form the filter cloth supporting means or walls ofthe filter chamber, it being obvious that these slats are reversed in position as they pass around the upper and lower sets of sprocket wheels |33 an |36, respectively. Y'

These slats have three important functions;

flrst, they form supporting means to withstand the pressures which are exerted against the filter cloths or belts; second, they serve to collect and direct the liquid filtrate to a definite position; third, they serve to drain the filtrate promptly away from the filter cloth or slat face. In every case the cracks between the edges of adjacent slats slope downwardly and away from the filter chamber, due to the fact that the lter chamber is slightly wedge shape or convergent from top to bottom. This slope is greatly accentuated in the rhomboidal form of slat shown in Fig. 27.

The slat shown in Figs. 28, 29 and 30 is one form of slat which may be used. This type of slat may be of non-metallic material, as of hardwood made liquid proof by subjecting it to a hot paraffine bath. This slat has holes |42 for the reception of suitable bolts, not shown, by which said slat may be secured to thelink belts |40. The holes |42 are counterbored as at |43 on the front side of the slat for the reception of the bolt heads. This slat |39 is further provided, on the side against which the filter belt is pressed, with spaced apart longitudinal grooves |44, which extend from the ends of the slat to a point near the center and are connected, by a transverse intersecting groove |45, with drain holes |46, which drain holes exten-d from face to rear of the slat and aiordpassageways through which filtrate may be passed through the slat, so that said filtrate may be picked up at the rear side thereof. Each groove |44 preferably has a saw kerf |41 in the bottom thereof so that if a filter cloth is pressed into the groove, the saw kerf will still afford a channel for the drainage of liquid to the holes |46. A packing member |48 in the nature of a thin fiat piece of resilient material, as rubber, may be secured, preferably by cementing the same, to the bottom edge of each slat. These packing members tend to prevent leakage between the slats. The top edge of each slat is provided with a longitudinal recess |49 which communicates with a` medially positioned tran.,-

verse notch or groove |50, whereby any filtrate Y which enters the crack between the slats is drained to the center and discharged to therear of the slat. The packing members |48 and recesses |49 and |50 are more clearly shown in Fig. 30, which is on a larger scale than Fig. 2S. A plurality of grooves I5! are provided in the backs of the slats for the purpose of draining, toward the center of the slat, any filtrate which may escape the other grooves and trickle down the base of the slats. The grooves |5| are inclined downwardly from outer to inner ends and are cut at an angle as illustrated in enlarged. detail, Fig. 29, whereby they will form channels in which the liquid may flow toward the center of the slats. When a filter cloth is pressed against the front side of this slat, said cloth will be supported by the lands or surfaces |52 between the grooves |44 and filtrate may be forced through said lter cloth into the grooves |44 and thence disposed of to the rear of the slats.

In Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 I have shown a metal slat |53 provided with internal cavities |54 having ribs |55 therebetween. The face side of the slat |53 is recessed to leave a narrow marginal portion |56 which projects beyond the plane common to the front edges of the ribs |55. The face of the slat may be formed by a relatively strong and heavy close-mesh wire screen |51, which fits within the recessed portion and is flush with the marginal portion |56. Tie wires |58, Fig. 2l, may be used to secure the wire mesh face 51 in place. Holes |18 may be provided in the slat |53 to facilitate securing the same to a link belt. The wire mesh |51 serves as a support against which lter cloth may be pressed. Liquid filtrate which is forced through said lter cloth presses readily through said wire mesh into the cavities |54. The front edges of the ribs |55 may be notched as at |59 and |60, so that this liquid filtrate may flow from the cavities |54 to a centrally located discharge opening |6| and be discharged through the back Wall of the slat Where it is picked up by liquid ltrate pick-up mechanisin, as hereinafter described. The top edge of the slat |53v has a depression |62 therein to catch liquid nitrate which finds its Way into the space between the slats. A hole |63 extends from the bottom of this depression to the interior` cavities of the slat, whereby liquid filtrate collecting in the depression |62 will be drained off through the slat. The top edge of each slat |53 is further beveled at the rear corner as at |64 to facilitate drainage of filtrate to the rear and the bottom edge of each slat has a groove |65 positioned directly over the beveled portion |64 of the next adjacent slat below, said groove |65 forming an edge from which liquid will tend to drip and the bevel |64 tending to prevent this drip from running forwardly between the slats. Grooves |64', having the same purpose and function as the grooves |5i in Figs. 28 and 29 may be provided in the rear wall of the slat |53.

lThe space between the two lowermost horizontal wires of the wire mesh member |51 is preferably filled or otherwise blocked up or obstructed as shown at |515, Fig, 19, to thereby form a lip or dam to cause the liquid ltrate to ow rearwardly away from the Wire mesh and to further prevent any residual filtrate from running back into the lter cloth as the slat moves away from the body of material which has just passed out of the pressure zone. A narrow ledge or dam |66 positioned just inside of the bottom edge of the slat face 15,1 may be used instead of the filling 165. Also, there may be provided a dam |56', whereby ltrate which trickles down the screen may be maintained away from the compressed solid matter of the material being treated forming the cake and positively directed to passageways |51, providing positive isolating for filtrate from the expanding vacuum-creating cake. Experience has taught that the ltrate tends to collect in the lower meshes of the lter face from which, unless provision such as dam |56 is provided, it is reabsorbed into the cake by the vacuum action of the expanding cake when the pressure is released. Passageways |51, Fig. 20, extend from the bottom of the screen |51 to the bottom edge of the slat, whereby filtrate may be drained into the depression |52 in the top of the next adjacent slat below. A vertical groove 68 is provided in each end of each slat |53 near the front side thereof and one or more holes |69 provided in the bottom of each groove |68 `iid extend through the end wall of the slat to ne Aspace inside. When the slat is in use, a filter cloth will extend around the end thereof, as more fuily hereinafter described and shown in Fig. 17, and any liquid filtrate which is forced edgewise through this lter cloth `may enter the groove 5F58 and pass into the inside of the slat through the holes 159.

When a wire mesh face |51 is used on the face side of the lter slats, as shown in Figs. 18 to 21, it permits the liquid filtrate to pass freely through the filter cloths which are pressed against said wire mesh, but I find that the heavy pressures within the pressure chamber may stretch and even tear the filter cloth, by pressing it into the spaces between the wires. I overcome this tendency preferably by subjecting the wire mesh to a very high pressure to thereby flatten out said wire mesh before it is installed on the faces of the slats,l 'liljie flattening of the wire mesh-affords a fatlel." Surface; more healing are@ fol the filtercloth and prevents injury of the filter cloth. This flattening the Wires i? ShOWl. in Fg- 20- Fig, 26 shows a fragment of a perforated plate |10, which may be used on the slat |53 in place oitno Wire mosh. |J-- Qns advantage of this nof-v forntsd plats ovor tho Wire mosh |51 ls that it affords a moro oven sufsoo snol thor@ is loss tendones? to stroton o nltor Cloth which is Pressed against the iront of tno .slst- BY omitting or filling, ono row of holes nonr tno bottom osso of. the plate |10', as shown at |1'|, the same result is obtained es lov tho nso oi the filter |55 inllg- 1.9 n consideration partionlarlr impor-tant Wnoro oX- oesslro pressures nro employed- The slnt.v i1?- shown in Fiss 22J 2,3 ond 2s is also of motel Construction and has cavities l 13. on tno insiolo into. whioh liquid ltrsto nlnr ness A rib, |1||l oxtonds lengthwise Within said slnt |12 and. is flush with the front @des of the slot Tino face of tino4 slot |12 is .formed by s Iznotol pinto |15 which nos slots. with rearwardly divolene walls and is secured to the slat I'l' by screws |11. Tho slots |16 and. the supporting-surfaces between said slots are of suitable shape, sin@ and positionine that liquid filtrato which mossos through s filter sloth, supported by the iol-nto |15, will, poss through the slots |16` into the interior Cav-ities |13 of the s lat and be discharged frointhe rear. side of the Slat through openings |18. shown by dotted line-s in Fig. 22, may be provided in the rib |14 for filtrate to pass through. TheV s lat |12 has holes |19 formed in enlarged portions of the `rib |111 through which holes |19v bolts or Cap screws |80 may extend for the pur-pose of securing the slats |12 to the link belts. The heads ofy the cap screws |8|! are positioned in openings |8| in the plates |12 and may be flushwith the front vside ofV said plates 2 see Fig. 2,4. The bottom edge of each Slat |12 may have a packing strip |82 cemented or otherwise secured thereto, Which tends to exclude iltrate from the space between sad slats. The top edge of each slat |12 may have a depression |83 oommnnioablv oonnected with the interior of the slat by notches |84 to catch any filtrate which finds its way between the slats and to direct said iiltrate into the cavity Within the Slat. A horizontal slot |85 is provided along the bottom of the plate |15 to alford a means for receiving filtrate in a portion of the plate not otherwise provided withv slots. The ltrate entering the slot |85 passes down through openings formed by notches |86 in the inner side of the plate and will ordinarily find its way into the cavities of the next adjacent slat through the depression |83 and notches |8|. It will be noted, in Figs. 22 and 24 that the slots H6 terminate above the level of the bottom of the interior cavity |13 of the slat |12, and that the slot |535 is closed at the inner side by the edge of the slat, thereby leaving a lip or darn at |81 which corresponds in purpose and function with the lip or dani |55 in Figs. 1 8 and 20, previously described. Drain holes |88 are provided in the back of each slat |12, preferably just below the top wall and just below the rib |14 of said slat, to facilitate washing out, cleaning and sterilization of the interior cavities of said slats. It will be apparent that these drain holes |88 will be in a suitable position to allow all liquid to drain out of the slats when the position of the slats is reversed after said slats have' passed around the lower sprocket wheels |33 at the beginning of their upward excursion and before they have passed around the upper sprocket wheels |35 at the beginning of their downward' excursion. This washing out may be done' by directing a spray of water through the slotted vface of the slats as they are moving upwardly on the outer sides of the machine, said slats then being free from the filter cloth. The end Walls of the slats |12 are notched at the front edges, as at |89,r

Fig. 24, to afford passageways through which liquid filtrate in the edges of a filtercloth which extends around the ends of said slatsmay flow into the slats. In Fig. 24 I also disclose a preferred method of mounting the links |40 on the slats by countersinking the base portion |40 of each link into the seat, whereby the ends of the link portion |40' will abut against solid metal shoulders in the slat and the tendency to shear off the bolts |80 will be greatly lessened.

The filter belt 105 (Fig. 24) i contacting the slat face k|15 may be treated or impregnated to render it repellent to filtrate. An example of such a filtrate repellent material, when water constitutes the filtrate, would be a fllter'be-lt made of a fabric in which the threads had been treated or impregnated with paraffin. A filtrate repellent fabric or belt of this nature will cause the filtratev which collects in the holes or slots of theslat face |15 to form globules 106 when said filtrate is exposed to the vacuum suction action arising from the expanding cake when pressure is released. When filtrate is thus induced to assume the globular form, space is left between said globules for air to pass to relieve the vacuum like action without carrying said filtrate back into the filter belt and' into the cal-1e.` Treating the slat faces with filtrate repellent material, such as aluminium stearate, also renders these faces repellent to the return of filtrate and helps to cause any filtrate in the passageways in said slat faces where experience teaches it naturally forms as a film, to assume a globular form and allow air to pass inwardly Without carrying the filtrate back into the cake. Thus, either the filter belts or the slat faces or both may be treated with water repellent material. Among the metals, applicant has discovered that duraluminium` is inherently less aqueous filtrate film formingthan other metals.

Figs. 25 and 27 show cross sections of two hollo-w metal slats |90 and |90', respectively, of a preferred form of construction, said slats being of rhomboidal form in vertical cross section, the top and bottom of said slats being inclined downwardly and backwardly from'the face of the slat to thereby promote rapid drainage of filtrate from face to b-ack, both within the slat and between the respective slats in thefilter zone. The said rhomboidal form of the slathas been found, by experience, to be a most important change in preventing the re-absorption of the expressed filtrate by the vacuum created by the expanding cake when the pressurek is released and in increasing the efficiency of the machine as a whole. This is effected by providing for the prompt withdrawal of the filtrate from the filter face on the'passage of the slat through the filter or pressure zone. Moreover, upon the upper excursion of the slat outside of the filter zone, the same rhomboidal form has the important advantage of shedding or discharging the residual filtrate cleaning fluid away from the machine, so that injury to the metallic parts of the machine is prevented. Particularly is this important when the filtrate is of a character detrimental to the materials of which the machine is constructed. rIhe top walls of the slats |90 and Isl are each recessed as at |89 to provide sufiicient space between the closely superimposed slats to permit the drainage of the filtrate from the filter face to the rear of the slat, said space being necessary to prevent the blocking of the drainage by film production as otherwise results. The recessed portions |89 may be suitably sloped to deliver the filtrate thus drained to pickeup means at any desired location. between the two ends of the slat. The inclined top and bottom walls of slats |90 and |90' cause filtrate to be removed quickly from the proximity of the filter belts, cloths, or filter faces and tend to prevent reabsorption of liquid by expanding solid material at the location where pressure is released. I find that there is a strong tendency for filtrate to be withdrawn from the slat and re-absorbed by the solid material after said solid material has passedthe location of maximum pressure and has started to expand, said expansion exerting a vacuum like action. The slats shown in Figs. 25 and 2'1 minimizes this tendency by rapidly removing substantially all of the filtrate so that said filtrate has no opportunity to be thus drawn back and reabsorbed by the solid matter. Also in Fig. 25 I provide a relatively thin walled pervious slat face |l which cooperates to permit prompt drainage by retaining a thinner vfilm of the ltrate in thevinterstices of the permeable slat face. This thin slat face is preferably reinforced by a plurality of webs |14 which may parallel the top' and bottom Walls of the slat. The providing of a plurality of such web members also provides for an increased drainage surface to which the filtrate may adhere, thereby retarding the tendency of the filtrate to fiow backwardly, due to the vacuum produced by the expanding cake whenythe pressure is released. Drainage ports |6|' may be formed in the rear wall of slat |90 illustrated in Fig. 25 on the plane of each rib member |14. The rib members |14 are preferably provided with relatively sharp and abrupt frontal edge portions |9| to act as a dam to retard the return of the filtrate to the said expanding cake due to the suction tendency occurring when the cake expands when the pressure is relieved. Ports |62 may be provided in, the rear wall above ports IBI to admit air to relieve any vacuum created by the expanding cake without` carrying the filtrate back into the cake and without interfering with the drainage of the filtrate through ports ISI.

The slat |90 shown in Fig. 27 differs in one respect fromthe slat |90' shown in Fig. 25`in that the front side of said slat |90 is recessed as at |9| for the reception of a slat face |92 which is formed of a plate or block of porous filter material. Also inclined rib |95 in, Fig. 27 may have passageway |96' adjacent the rear wall to permit filtrate to pass downwardly to a discharge outlet |91'. v

The two pendent frames HB, Figs. 1 to 5 are connected with each other by a plurality of fioatingly mounted tie rods |93, which extend through the holes |30 in the outer ends of the U shaped cross members |21. Relatively strong and heavy compression springs |94 may be provided on the floatingly mounted tie rods |93 at the outer sides of the U shaped cross members |21, and nuts v|95 on the ends of said tie rods may serve as adjustable holding means for the springs |94. Suitable washers |96 may be provided at both ends of the springs |94. Due to the fact that the pressure between the pendent frames increases toward the lower end of the machine, I prefer to provide stronger floatingly mounted tie rod members and heavier springs to-ward the lower end. In Fig. 3, it will be, noted that the lowermost springs |94 are made larger and heavier. Obviously more spring pressure may be obtained toward the lower end of the pendent frames by providing a greater number of springs, which may be done as hereinafter more fully described, with specific reference to Fig. 4.5.

By"interconnecting the two pendent frames with the floatingly mounted tie rods |93 it will be apparent that the pressure of material in the pressure chamber |38 between the two pendent frames will be borne as a tension by said tie rods 93 and will not be transmitted to the stationary frame of the machine. This provides a balanced structure ol great strength and minimum weight and affords a very advantageous construction for high presure operation.

It will be noted that the uppermost tie rods |52' which connect the two pendent frame members are positioned a short distance above the pivot screws lll on which said pendent frame members are swingingly supported and that no springs are provided on these tie rods |93. This is more clearly shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive. The nuts is? on these top tie rods are preferably non-rotatably secured to the cross members |21. This may be done by welding said nuts |91 to washers or plates |98 which are welded to the cross members |27. The tie rods |93' each have right hand threads at one end and left hand threads at the other end, whereby rotation of said tie rods in one direction, within the relativer ly xed and non-rotatable nuts |9' will cause the two pendent frame members to be moved toward each other and rotation of said .tie rods an opposite direction will cause said two` pendent frame members to be moved away from each other, it being apparent that each pendent frame member will be moved the same amount toward or away from the medial vertical plane of the pressure chamber |38 in response to rotation of the tie rods |93. To insure equal angular movement of the two tie rods |93 in the same direction, I preferably provide a sprocket wheel lsl on each of said tie rods and I interconnect said two sprocket wheels by an endless link belt 282, see Fig. 2. The tie rods |93 may be turned by exerting a pull on the link belt 29o, it being understood that these adjustments will be made when the machine is inoperative and when the pendent frames are not subjected to pressure, and that a small amount of power will suiice to turn the tie rods.

lSuitable stop means, which may be in the nature of sleeve members 2M on the lowermost tie rod |93, are provided for limiting the movement toward the center, oiy the pendent frames. This prevents the slat belts on the pendent frames from being pressed together with the possibility of damaging the same when there is no material in the chamber |38 of the machine. These sleeve members 20| are shown in Fig. 1.

.ie slat belts which are carried on the two pendent :frame members |25 serve as supports for woven or fabricated ltering members. Each fabricated filtering member may be in the nature of an endless lter cloth belt 2,05 for use in con.- nection with each slat belt, as shown by broken lines in Figs. l and 3, or it may be in the nature of one or more straight strips of lter cloth material not in endless form, or it may be in the nature of a plurality of superimposed filter cloth strips or belts all as hereinafter described and shown in the drawings. The endless filter belts 205, shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, 5, and 1'7 are wider than the slat belts and the edges 295' `of said lter belts fold over theends of the slats |39 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and I7. These iilter belts 205 pass around rollers 2M, 251, 2GB, and 2G@ at the upper end of the frame and around rollers ZIB and 2H at the lower end of the frame, see Fig. 3. They are pressed against the s lat belts by the material within the pressure chamber |38, and movement may be imparted to them by the slag*J belts. In Fig. 3 the lter belts are shown as passing over the guide rollers 205 just before they engage with the slat belts in their downward movement. In Fig. 44 I have shown a guide member 2| 2 positioned at the side of the slat belt near the upper end thereof and serving to'fold the edge of the lter belt at right angles, whereby the edge of the iilter belt may be caused to fold correctly over the ends of the slats |39 as it passes into the pressure area of the machine.

Positioned at the sides of the previously described slrat belts and in engagement with the portions 205 of the filter cloths 205, which eX- tend around the ends of the slats |39, are two side belts 2|3, preferably impervious and prefere ably of metallic character to provide low friction. These side belts form walls of the pressure chamber |73@ and may be of duplicate construction. Each of the side belts 2|3 is carried on a slat belt composed of slats 2|@ secured to an endless link belt 2 l 5. 'Ihe link belts 2 5 are mounted on upper sprocket wheels 2|6 and .lower sprocket wheels 2 I, see Fig. 2, and said link belts 24| 5 have rollers 2 lli provided on the pivot pins 2| E, which connect the respective links of said link belts, see Fig. 17. The rollers 2|3 may run on trackways 220, see Figsffl, 9, and 17, which may be positioned opposite the sides of the pressure chamber |33 and extend 'between the upper and lower sprocket wheels 2||5 and 2| '1, respectively. The trackways 220 support the link belts 2|5 and s-lats ,2|4 and saidslats 2| Al support the impervious side belts 2|3 close liquid tight contact with the marginal portions 205, of the filter belts 225, which marginal portions 255 are folded over the ends of the slats |3fto provide a fluid tight joint between the ends of ythe slats and the side belts. The trackways 22|) for the side belts may be supported by iiat springs 22| which extend cross wise of said trackways 22D at frequent intervals, as shown in Figs. 4, 9, and 17. This track 22S is slightly flexible or resilient so that the same may be locally adjusted to make the joint between the side belt and the lter belts iilter tight. The ends of the iiat springs 22| have holes 222 for the reception of portions A223 of reduced diameter on the ends of cap screws 222, Figs. 4 and 1'?. The cap screws 224 are threaded through bosses 225 on the upright side frame members il?, see Fig. il, and may be adjusted to vary the pressure of the side belts 2i3 against the ends of the slats |39 of the main slat belts to make the joints of desired tightness. The flat springs 22| are provided at frequent intervals and are adjustably supported at each end, thereby making it possible to adjust the' position of the side belts H3 at any desired location to maintain liquid tight contact with the lter cloths and the main slat belts. In Fig. 46 I have shown a modified form of adjustable spring mechanism for Supporting the side belts. In this disclosure the trackway 22B has a plurality of rearwardly projecting studs 225, only one of which is shown,

that extend through holes in a side frame mem- 

